New child care operating grant program announced in Grand Falls-Windsor

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The latest announcement regarding child care centres in this province came today over the everyday din of children playing at the Grand Falls-Windsor YMCA Child Care Centre.

The Provincial Government officially launched a voluntary Operating Grant Program, an investment of $9.7 million, noted Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development in making the announcement.

An annual operating grant will be given to eligible licensed child care centres to help offset some of the costs associated with providing child care, she explained.

The Operating Grant Program will require participating child care centres to lower their rates to the current Child Care Services Subsidy rates, a press release noted. The Provincial Government will provide an annual operating grant ranging from $780 to $3,640 per space, depending on the age of the child. This will compensate centres for their lower rates.

Parents of children at participating licensed child care centres will see fees reduced to current daily subsidy rates of $44 per day for infants (birth to under 24 months), $33 per day for toddlers (24 to under 36 months), $30 per day for three to 12 years in full day care, and $14 per day for afterschool programs (up to 12 years of age).

"By setting a rate structure in regulated child care centres, for those centres participating in our voluntary Operating Grant Program and subsidizing families with lower incomes through our Child Care Services Subsidy program, combined with existing federal and provincial benefits, our government is helping to make child care affordable for more families." Sullivan added.